Total and Sonatrach Reopen Arzew Petchem Talks; QP Likely Partner

2:18 PM MDT | July 24, 2012 | Natasha Alperowicz

Total and Algeria’s state-owned energy major Sonatrach (Algiers) have restarted discussions to relaunch their previously announced petchems project at Arzew, Algeria, sources tell CW. The partners originally signed agreements in 2007 to build the complex, but changes in Algerian laws requiring the domestic company to hold a majority stake, uncertainties surrounding the supply of ethane to the complex, and financing issues had put the project on hold. The $7 billion project has been revived after Sonatrach proposed an alternative, allegedly...